The Power of Words in “The Book Thief”

Written By: Alaina Yan

In this scene of The Book Thief movie, Ilsa Hermann hands Liesel a book.

The Book Thief is Markus Zusak’s novel exploring the Holocaust and its impact on both Jewish and non-Jewish Germans. Although the novel is focused on Liesel and her life hiding a Jewish German, Max, Zusak also zeros in on her journey to understanding the power literature and words can have.

Demonstrated by Hitler’s ability to manipulate and control Nazi Germany through fear and his words, the novel follows her as she learn about the prejudiced world around her. Her discovery of the power of words is greatly emphasized with her yelling match with Ilsa, the mayor’s wife and her maternal figure.

In The Book Thief, Liesel’s words positively impact Ilsa's life. When Liesel finds out that Ilas quits her washing, Liesel is enraged. She goes on to yell at Ilsa about her dead son and “‘...[that] it’s pathetic that you sit here shivering in your own house to suffer for it.’” After her verbal assault, Liesel notices that “[Ilsa] was battered and beaten up…[and] her eyes [were] blackened. Cuts had opened up, and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin” (Zusak 262, 263). Despite Liesel’s words not having a physical effect on Ilsa, they have a strong physiological effect. The truthful words force Ilsa to realize that punishing herself for her son’s death is an ignorant and futile way to cope with her grief. Essentially, Liesel’s words push Ilsa to move on from her son’s death and live a better life.

Liesel is in Ilsa’s library reading a book.

Later, Ilsa demonstrates the positive growth Liesel’s words catalyze. After Ilsa reads Liesel’s letter regarding an apology and self-punishment for the torn-up book, Ilsa later comes to her house. When Liesel opens the door, she notices Ilsa is “without the bathrobe. The summer dress was yellow with red trim.” While handing her an empty book for Liesel to write her own story in, Ilsa tells her, “‘Don’t be like me, Liesel’” (Zusak 523, 524). Instead of being in her usual bathrobe, Ilsa is in a summer dress, which is worn outside for the hot weather. Being in the heat rather than freezing inside her house, shows that Liesel’s words positively push Ilsa to stop punishing herself and let herself move on. Furthermore, helping Liesel not make the same mistakes as she did, shows she has accepted her mistakes and is willing to start a happier life. All in all, when Ilsa’s life changes due to Liesel’s truthful words, it demonstrates that when one speaks truthful words, one can empower others to improve their lives for the better.

Citations:

Refer to The Book Thief original book for page numbers and citations